The Buzz-ards
| February 14th, 2008
V and I came up with a name for the art scene folk in Oakland. For those not in the know (As I so often say) there is an underground art movement in Oakland, centered around 23rd and Telegraph. There are a couple of galleries in this area, like 21 Grand, Rock Paper Scissors, Esteban Sabar and the one that really sparked the scene, Mama Buzz.
This movement is also marked by a distinct favoratism for reuse and recycled materials. The art in garbage, as it were. There’s a certain type of person that moves in this circle, that revels in it, as the Emo revels in his or her gloom, or the punk revels in his or her anarchy.
The only thing the movement needs is a catchy name, like Yuppies, or Hippies or Tree Huggers or some such.
And I propose: Buzzards.
An apt title, as they consume and reuse the leftovers of a massively over-stimulated populous. The Yerba Buena did an exhibit of Oakland artists, and it was almost all made from things found in the street. What wasn’t, looked a bit like childrens’ art,
mama Buzz really is the center of this movement, despite the numerous amazing outfits and groups that are a part of the Oakland Art Murmur.
When all is said and done, Mama Buzz is the only place these hip Buzzards can sit and hang out. They create at Rock Paper Scissors. They sip and surf at Mama Buzz.
Thanks to katerw for the image above. I have some shots of Buzzards too, but this was better than mine.